Generation Z (often shortened to Gen Z and informally known as Zoomers who were born between approximately 1995 and 2012) has shaken the authoritarian rulers across the globe in the 21st Century. In recent times, Gen Z has played a significant role in challenging and (in some cases) overthrowing governments in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Madagascar, Peru and some other countries. Young people have historically been at the forefront of social and political revolutions. So, it is quite natural that they would drive movements for a change. However, there are some significant differences between today’s young generation and the young generation of the past. One has to analyse those differences to understand the nature of contemporary revolutions.

Gen Z is considered the first generation to be digital natives as they grew up with the internet and smartphones, making them the first to have grown up with constant, as well as instant, access to online knowledge and information. It has shaped their learning preferences, their way of interaction with the world and also their approach to technology. The internet is not only their means of connection (with each other), but has also become a primary vehicle for cultural exchanges. The internet has helped them to become global citizens in a true sense.

Various surveys have confirmed that Gen Z relies heavily on social media for information, a significant departure from older generations who prefer newspapers, radio and television. This is because Gen Z, who grew up in the digital age, uses platforms, like Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, for both entertainment and serious information, viewing them as primary gateways to news content. Hence, political leaders have lesser influence over this generation. Instead, international events have a greater impact on them. While the internet has isolated Gen Z from society, it has also connected them to the rest of the world. As a result, protests triggered by the younger generation in one country frequently resonate in other countries mainly because of digital connectivity and shared global issues, creating waves of activism that challenge the existing power structures.

The cause of anger is, almost invariably, personal. While many older Gen Z members experienced the events of 9/11 and the 2007-09 global financial crisis, most of the generation does not have a collective personal memory of them. Instead, these defining events shaped the world that Gen Z was born into and grew up in. The effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic, on the other hand, impacted this generation during their formative years. The post-Second World War liberal economic order, which fostered a rules-based system of open trade and cooperation through multilateral institutions, has been in gradual decline for several decades. This shift is marked by a retreat from global integration, a rise in protectionism and increasing scepticism toward the tenets of neoliberalism.

Most of the Gen Z people feel that opportunities have decreased in recent times, while exploitation and economic inequality have increased. Thanks to social media, they are well aware of this reality. Furthermore, a widespread feeling of job insecurity exists among the younger generation due to various factors, including the growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the increasing prevalence of the gig economy and an education system that is not keeping pace with the skills required for some specific jobs.

All these are taking place in a world driven by indiscriminate consumerism. Marketing narratives strongly define and shape what it means to be well-off… to be able to buy more, to be able to buy new things and to be able to keep buying. The inability to meet aspirations can lead to anger, both on an individual and a societal level. Then, an explosion would be inevitable.

Meanwhile, the recent global trend shows a surge in Ultra-Right-wing and Populist movements. Polling data from 2024-25 indicates that the political inclination of Gen Z is quite complex. While older Gen Zers tend to lean Left, recent data suggests a significant shift to the Right among the youngest members of this generation. There is also an emerging gender-based divide as far as Gen Z’s political views are concerned. Overall, the majority of the Gen Z population is not casting votes in favour of the Right-wing parties. It may be noted that being a supporter of a political trend and being influenced by the trend are distinct concepts, involving different levels of conscious commitment and active engagement.

Fear– or threat-based rhetoric is a major tool often used by Ultra-Right-wing or Populist politicians. The fear has affected Gen Z, as well. Social media, which are the main sources of all their information, are driven by specific algorithms. As social media algorithms rely on user-generated data and interactions, they constantly show news contents that align with prior reading habits of internet users. It is commonly known as a filter bubble or echo chamber. Hence, those pieces of information match the limited real-world experience of Gen Z. As a result, they become afraid. Then, the fear leads to anger, the anger leads to hate and the hate ultimately leads to protests.

This sort of anger is personal in nature as it arises from one’s own frustration. While the younger generation of yesteryear had a desire to bring about socio-political change and to establish collective farms, revolutions triggered by the Gen Z lack such romanticism. It is because they were born and brought up in a post-ideological era… after the end of history. Their (social) isolation and individualism are basically the product of the contemporary time. To Gen Z, collective means simply people like us or people who belong to the same socio-economic status. As expected, the political issues that matter to this generation are also personal. They consider all the sensitive issues, like gender identity, freedom of expression (on social media platforms), environmental awareness and a corruption-free government, from the perspective of an individual.

Therefore, there is no need to judge whether a revolution that ensures the well-being of the individual is better than establishing the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. The characteristics of Gen Z’s activism and social movements are fundamentally different from 20th Century revolutions. There is no such politics in Gen Z revolution in a sense in which the 20th Century world experienced politics. The 20th Century definition of politics implies organised, collective and ideological actions. Naturally, Gen Z does not want to uproot the established political system. Rather, there is a clear form of conformism in Gen Z activism as one can notice the tendency to conform to the established social hierarchy. This generation has never directly seized state power after overthrowing a corrupt government (or ruler) in any part of the world. Instead, they have chosen someone who is a well-established personality, like a social entrepreneur, former judge, Opposition leader or military officer, in the existing socio-political system, but not a supporter of the previous ruler. Also, the new rulers have never claimed that they would fundamentally change the political system. Gen Z wants them to keep the administration free from corruption and to ensure economic prosperity. Never before in world history has there been such a narrow definition of revolution.

Read: Is Gen Z the most conservative generation in history?

The authoritarian or populist leaders in power are surely analysing the character of Gen Z revolution. They are also trying to understand how much space should be left so that the anger of Gen Z does not reach the point of explosion. On the other hand, leaders in Opposition, too, are planning to use Gen Z’s anger for their own political gain. As per logic, both the parties would soon reach an equilibrium, and exploitation, injustice, polarisation, racism, discrimination, etc. would not be considered important issues.

Creating more opportunities for the educated younger generation is quite an important issue. However, it should not be the only prioritising factor in politics. One cannot avoid this aspect of contemporary politics, if s/he really wants to understand the basic nature of Gen Z revolution.

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Published by Koushik Das

Koushik Das (born on May 16, 1976 in Kolkata) is a career journalist. Based in the Indian capital of New Delhi, Koushik writes mainly about foreign policies and current geopolitical issues, and rarely about other topics. His own political ideas are highly influenced by Antonio Gramsci, Louis Althusser, Michel Foucault, Michael Oakeshott and others. English philosopher and political theorist Oakeshott (Dec 11, 1901-Dec 19, 1990) says that “in political activity, men sail a boundless and bottomless sea. There is neither harbour for shelter nor floor for anchorage, neither starting-place, nor appointed destination. But we have to keep afloat”. (Rationalism in Politics, 1962) As a student of Political Science, Koushik loves to share his views on issues, which have great impacts on his thought process (and also on India, South Asia and of course on the global community), with his readers through his website – Boundless Ocean of Politics. By doing so, he tries to keep himself afloat. You will find some of his articles in https://inserbia.info/today/ (https://inserbia.info/today/author/kou_das13_i/), as he has been trying to assess the global geopolitics since 2003. You can also mail him at kousdas@gmail.com View all posts by Koushik Das